Spring into plein air season!
Weather notwithstanding, spring has nearly sprung! Soon the days will be warming up, the sun will be out longer, and painters will be heading outdoors in droves for a bit of plein air painting. Over the next few days, we'll be discussing the ins and outs of painting en plein air, where to do it, what to bring, how best to travel, and more, so stay tuned, stay informed, and learn all you need to prepare for spring painting season!
What is plein air painting?
If you're at all familiar with art and painting, even peripherally, chances are you've heard of "plein air" painting. Despite appearances, pa... [More]

Ampersand Panels: Painting on Rigid Supports
Ampersand panels have been around since 1994, gaining popularity with artists over the years as a trusted archival surface for their art.
Since Ampersand began, the company's mission has been to create the best painting surfaces on the market and to share its panel expertise with the artist community. Since each panel from Ampersand has unique characteristics and uses, we'll go through them one by one so you can see the differences and understand what mediums work best with each.
The Museum Series panels from Ampersand are all fully made in the USA from US-grown renewable wood source... [More]

Open stock handmade soft pastels for professional artists!
Let the fanfare begin! After months of waiting and biting our fingernails, new Mungyo Gallery Handmade Soft Pastels are finally in stock! And just in time for plein air painting season, as well. So why not grab a couple and get outside to paint?
Mungyo Gallery Handmade Soft Pastels are just that: handmade. Made from a blend of finely ground pigments and kaolin clay, they are hand-rolled into the classic European-style, cigar-like shape. Since they are hand-rolled, less binder is needed to keep the pigments together, so Gallery Handmade Pastels' consistency is softer and smoother t... [More]